autumn | severus snape

forty

The soft glow of the library lanterns illuminated Ophelia as she hunched over the leather-bound book, her quill scratching against a piece of parchment as she scribbled notes. Her focus was unbroken, until Teddy slid into the seat across from her.

His usual easy going demeanor was nowhere to be found. Instead, his jaw was tight, his eyes stormy.

"Who was it?" He demanded, leaning forward, his voice low enough not to disturb the other students but sharp enough to cut through her thoughts.

Ophelia blinked up at him, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"The lake," Teddy said firmly, his hands resting on the table as if to anchor himself. "Who threw you in? I need names."

Her stomach sank, the memory of icy water and muffled laughter flashing through her mind. She sighed, closing the book in front of her and setting her quill down. "How did you find out?"

"I should have found out from you," he said, his jaw tight. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Ophelia leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest. "Because you'd do exactly what you're doing now, get all riled up and start planning some sort of revenge."

Teddy's lips pressed into a thin line, his fingers curling into fists. "You're damn right. Someone tried to kill you, Ophelia. This isn't something you just sweep under the rug."

"I'm not sweeping it under the rug," she rolled her eyes, though her voice softened. "What would you like to do?" She asked. "Hex them? Fight them? Get yourself expelled?"

Teddy clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. "I'd make sure they think twice before trying anything like that again."

Ophelia shook her head, her voice softening. "It's not that simple. This is about my father and what he's done. I'm just... collateral."

Teddy frowned, his anger faltering as concern took its place. "What are you talking about?"

Ophelia hesitated, her fingers brushing over the edge of the book. Finally, she exhaled, her shoulders slumping. "Listen to me."

Ophelia opened the book and explained everything, her voice steady but heavy with emotion. She told him about Professor Brown confronting her in the Astronomy Tower, about her brother and sister, about the Thief's Bond.

Teddy listened intently, his expression shifting from anger to shock to quiet grief as she spoke. When she finally fell silent, he leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair.

"I knew your father was a monster," he said quietly, "but this... this is beyond anything I could've imagined."

Ophelia nodded, her throat tight. "That's why it doesn't matter who threw me in the lake. They're just pawns in his game, and I can't waste time on them when the real threat is him."

"This is... disturbing," Teddy muttered, flipping a page carefully.

Ophelia nodded. "It's more than that. It's horrifying." She paused, swallowing hard. "The Sanguine Siphon. Blood magic."

Teddy leaned back slightly, his eyes scanning the description of the curse. "'A parasitic bond tethering two individuals, allowing the caster to draw on the victim's magic...'" He glanced up at Ophelia, his expression grim. "So that's why Ana's been struggling. Why her magic is so unreliable."

Ophelia sighed, closing her book softly. "It does. And Peter." Her voice trembled slightly, but she forced herself to continue. "He wasn't just an addict, Teddy. He was... drained. I thought it was the drugs, but now I know it was more than that. My father was using him."